diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0e5c9f8..71bdc66 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -183,6 +183,11 @@ Set options in the `config` of the row in `~/.dsh/profiles/web/cordis.patch.yml`
     guardTools: [write, str_replace_editor, apply_patch]   # write: only existing files are denied
 ```
 
+Outside `hashline` mode, `read` and `grep` return the plain built-in output with no
+`[PATH#TAG]` headers. A grep hit still counts as an observation, so the file can be edited
+straight away. For Claude Code–style tools, use `mode: replace`, `strict: true`, and
+`guard: false`.
+
 ## Tests
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 4dbc38e..bc462d2 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ export function apply(ctx, config = {}) {
   function readTool(builtin) {
     return {
       ...builtin,
-      description: `${builtin.description} Returns at most ${cfg.pageLines} lines per call; continue with offset from the footer.${P.READ_HASHLINE_NOTE}`,
+      description: `${builtin.description} Returns at most ${cfg.pageLines} lines per call; continue with offset from the footer.${cfg.mode === 'hashline' ? P.READ_HASHLINE_NOTE : ''}`,
       parameters: capLimit(builtin.parameters, cfg.pageLines),
       output: {
         ...builtin.output,
@@ -703,6 +703,8 @@ export function apply(ctx, config = {}) {
           const target = await resolveTarget(args.file_path, exec)
           const { text } = await readFile(target, exec)
           const tag = storeFor(exec).record(String(target.targetKey), text)
+          // Tags only matter to hashline patches; other modes get the plain built-in output.
+          if (modeFor(exec?.agent) !== 'hashline') return value
           return { ...value, tag, rel: relPath(target, exec) }
         } catch {
           return value
@@ -721,7 +723,7 @@ export function apply(ctx, config = {}) {
   function grepTool(builtin) {
     return {
       ...builtin,
-      description: `Search file contents with a ripgrep regular expression. Returns at most ${cfg.pageLines} matching lines per call, grouped by file; pass offset to page through more.${P.GREP_HASHLINE_NOTE}`,
+      description: `Search file contents with a ripgrep regular expression. Returns at most ${cfg.pageLines} matching lines per call, grouped by file; pass offset to page through more.${cfg.mode === 'hashline' ? P.GREP_HASHLINE_NOTE : ' A match counts as having read the file, so it can be edited straight away.'}`,
       parameters: withOffset(builtin.parameters, 'Skip this many matches (paging; the footer gives the next offset).'),
       output: {
         ...builtin.output,
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 83dfae7..8e81026 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@local/omp-edit",
-  "version": "1.3.0",
+  "version": "1.4.0",
   "description": "oh-my-pi style editing for DSH: replaces the edit tool with hashline patches (content-hash tagged line anchors, block ops, cut/paste registers, multi-file, stale-tag recovery), plus replace/sloppy/apply_patch modes; tags read and grep output.",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",